Fish market, Protected fish market in central Bruges, Belgium.
The Fish market is an open-air covered market in the heart of Bruges, defined by a classical arcade built in 1820. The stalls sit beneath the arches, where fresh fish from the North Sea is laid out on wooden counters and in open crates for buyers to inspect.
In the 18th century, city officials moved the fish trade away from Market Square to this separate spot to keep the smell away from the town center. The current arcade replaced earlier selling structures on the same site when it was built in 1820.
The market is a place where locals exchange a few words with vendors they have known for years while choosing their fish. Visiting in the morning gives a clear sense of how this habit is still part of everyday life in Bruges.
The market runs Wednesday through Saturday mornings, and arriving early gives you the best choice before stocks run low. The Langestraat parking area is nearby, and the arcades are easy to find on foot from most parts of the old town.
The columns of the arcade carry sculptures depicting Neptune and seafaring, a detail many visitors overlook while shopping. These carvings are a reminder of how closely the city's fortunes were once tied to sea trade.
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